SOUNDBITES — “Momentum is on our side, and today’s decision could provide us with a great opportunity. It is not, however, the opportunity to bash the court or otherwise misplace our anger about the slowness of our path to equality. The opportunity will be to organize, to educate and continue to expand equality across the country. We likely will feel injured, once again, today if the court upholds Proposition 8. But, rather than some inchoate anger at the court, I actually believe the injury we will be feeling is the renewed focus on the hurtful vote of last November. A ruling upholding Proposition 8, far from a cause for protest, therefore, will instead be a call for us — to borrow a phrase — to be the change we’ve been waiting for. Rather than spouting anger at these rallies, organizers and speakers should be spouting information about legislative battles going on in their states and counties. The California rallies should be an opportunity to sign up marriage equality precinct captains all across the state, people who will be the local voices changing minds across that state. Anger is inevitable — and understandable — if a group of people is told, once again, that full equality is not yet theirs. Real leaders, however, would show us ways to turn that anger into positive actions that will lead to real, lasting change.” —Law Dork blogger Chris Geidner, in a post written before today’s decision was announced [Lawdork]

Agreed. Let’s have our justified outrage, but then let’s put it to good use with constructive actions.

And don’t forget: We have 18,000 married gay couples there, each with 4 feet in the door of change. They, along with the legally wed couples from other states who may want to move to CA or some other equally-intolerant state, are going to help chip away at these inequalities.

May 26, 2009 at 4:58 pm · @Reply ·

Andrew

While I agree the paramount focus is on positive action, it’s important to take a moment to accept and honor the anger and disappointment people are rightfully experiencing. I’m pissed off about it and I won’t apologize for being pissed off and giving voice to my anger. After a few days, week, whatever… I’ll get back to focusing on positive action. On that subject, check out:

Fuck the courts. Fuck the justices. Fuck the Christians. Fuck the Mormons. Fuck the Blacks that voted for prop.8, Fuck the Latinos that voted for prop.8. Fuck THEM ALL. FUCK PEACEFUL PROTESTS. THEY’VE GOTTEN US NO WHERE.
The only times that gay rights have been taken seriously is when we’ve rioted. It’s time to let the bricks start flying again. Let’s stop pussying out and fight back for what’s rightfully ours. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We will never be taken seriously by just passing the fist. We need to take a look at our past fellow gay activists and how they did it. By fighting back, not by sitting there and saying “well if we all march peacefully maybe they’ll understand us”, that is the type of behavior that will get us to where we’re at now, NOWHERE!!! I don’t care who this offends, it is the truth. There is no gray area here, it’s gut & dry, black & white, YOU’RE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST, make your decision.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!!

If I hear one more idea to educate the public or create awareness, I’m going to lose my shit. I cannot believe, after all these failures, LGBT rights organizers are STILL trying that route.

May 26, 2009 at 6:50 pm · @Reply ·

Aaron

Whatever dumbass! If it weren’t for the anger and rage that began on Nov 5, we would not see the mind boggling grass roots efforts that have gotten us 3 more states since Prop 8. Sorry, but Mr. Nice Gay gets us no where. You start boycotting bigots and shaming religious zealots who spew hatred in the voting booths and with their pocketbooks and you start to see change.
How dare you brow beat us on a day that decided we are still second class citizens. Save it for a HRC or DNC meeting. Tonight let the queers who are pissed off get out there and express their anger in however way they want.

May 26, 2009 at 7:52 pm · @Reply ·

holla

Yes, it is good to be angry, but it is not the fault of the courts. The judicial branch exists to enforce the laws, including the constitution of the state. If California has created a law whereby the citizenry can directly alter the state consitution through ballot measures, then it is not the job of judges to override that. It is, however, the job of legislators to do something about this. Judges don’t make laws, state legislators and senators do. If they change the laws around how ballot measures are dealt with, then the judges have something to work with. It’s the state lawmakers who are cowardly, hiding behind the “will of the people” to save to cover their own asses. There is a place for anger, however it should not be directed at the court. What the justices have done is not shameful. They have done their job.

In Canada, where I live, it was the courts who brought about gay marriage, but only because laws prohibiting it were, they found, in clear violation of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In California, the judges hands have been tied. They did not say “we fundamentally oppose gay marriage and therefore we uphold this decision”, instead they said, according to the laws of California the people can effect change through ballot measures and the argument presented to us does not invalidate this ability. Imagine if gay marriage had been granted by a ballot measure, and then upheld by the court. Everyone would be cheering the triumph of democracy.

Yes, get angry. Queers should be able to get married in every state, for Christ’s sake. But Geidner is right, the anger should not be directed at the courts, but at the lawmakers who do nothing about this issue of fundamental equality, and the fuckers who voted for Prop 8 in the first place.

May 26, 2009 at 10:17 pm · @Reply ·

el polacko

what anger ?? fewer than a thousand people showed up this evening … in san francisco !!! and people were laughing and chatting on their cell phones. at the moment, there is NOBODY at the city hall since the small ‘protest’ group has moved to the MLK memorial (???) this shocking reaction…or should i say lack thereof.. is more depressing than the decision. people’s basic civil rights have been stripped away and it’s just a big yawn in the ‘gay capitol’… i’m sickened.

@el polacko: wow, that really saddens me El Placko.
It’s very depressing to know that while I sit here in Hawaii not sure how to crawl out of my skin because I’m so enraged that my former fellow Californians won’t be treated as 1st class citizens, and only to find out that most don’t even give fuck. Laughing and talking on cellphones. That’s just sick. Maybe we should have all our rights striped away and head back to the 50’s. Maybe then people will understand the importance of freedom and civil rights.

@el polacko: sorry I misspelled your name, see how mad I am, I can’t even see straight, lol.

May 26, 2009 at 11:45 pm · @Reply ·

Jason

@Holla…you’re correct, if you read what the real question was they answered it..All that was actually questioned was if this was a revision or an amendment. They felt it to be an amendment that was handled correctly. The language was very clear they were NOT ruling on gay marriage. They did say they felt we were not being deprived of any right BUT the term marriage and I’ve always believed the issue was that ALL unions should have been civil and marriage could remain in the hands of the religious zealots that want it. If we had asked for equal rights through the civil union method I would suggest we would have ALL the same rights as those people who wish to be married by a clergy person. I for one could handle that and wouldn’t consider it a “less than marriage”….I have NO desire to have the religious bigots traditional marriage.

May 27, 2009 at 12:52 am · @Reply ·

cymatic

Getting mad at judges because we disagree with the outcome of a ruling while paying no attention to the legal basis for the decision is something we should leave to the wingers, people.

As has been said, the CA Supreme Court addressed a set of specific, narrow questions about the procedure and nature of an initiative which amended the state constitution. Turns out it was not improper when judged by the specific rules in California. Yeah, it’s a bummer that it’s valid, but the problem here (as Geidner wrote) is the fact that Prop 8 passed with a majority of the votes in November, not that the Supreme Court upheld state law! I’m all for getting out into the streets, but not to protest the decision, rather as a demonstration of our commitment to marriage equality.

Angry is fine, stupid isn’t. What are you all doing to help get another initiative on the ballot to overturn Prop 8? That’s what we need to think about now.

May 27, 2009 at 9:33 am · @Reply ·

schlukitz

Fuck people like Chris Geidner who tell those of us in emotional pain that we should suck-up our disappointment and then tell us what we SHOULD be doing while themselves standing in the sidelines doing nothing.

I am so sick and tired of being told, by other people how wrong I am for feeling what I feel, how I should think, how I should act and what I SHOULD be doing.

I guess people like that would also tell us that we should suck-up the grief NOY cry at funerals either.

Dumb fucks.

May 27, 2009 at 1:40 pm · @Reply ·

Mark M

It is totally inappropriate to tell disenfranchized people to check their anger. Telling them where to direct it is one thing, telling them to squash it is another.

May 27, 2009 at 1:52 pm · @Reply ·

cymatic

Did you read what Geidner wrote? He didn’t say don’t be angry, he said don’t waste it with pointless and misguided protests against the wrong targets but rather, “turn that anger into positive actions that will lead to real, lasting change.” Is that really so insulting or inappropriate?